If you’re staying in town for the summer, there is always that dread that there will be nothing on and nowhere to go, but that’s less and less the case each year and we’re baffled to find ourselves with still a busy calendar of events and activities. For example, on the fitness side there’s GuavaPass’ Abu Dhabi takeover this month – a full day of fun, cheap-as-chips fitness.
The citywide wellness app is teaming up with Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana and RIPE Market for a cool day out in the capital full of healthy shopping and hardcore workouts on July 29, and we’re telling you now because Guava’s events fill up fast and have been increasingly hard to get in to – even for us sometimes!
The Summer Saturday fun day has a group class for all sorts. For example, if you’ve ever wanted to try hula hooping, come and release your inner child with a whirling workout led by the guys at Flowground.
Based in Dubai, but now offering group classes in Abu Dhabi, Flowground is the premier meetup to break a sweat while learning some insanely intricate skills with the hoop. It’s not just for kids and hippies, and can be a real fat burner – trust us.
On the plus side, if you are heading to a festival later in the summer, well, now you have a skill you can show off between gigs!
For something a little more hardcore, there’s always Level Up’s Boot Camp and Power Toning, both of which promise to deliver endorphin-rushing range of cardio, strength and plyometric exercises that just might leave you keeled over but feeling accomplished.
Or you can stretch and lengthen those limbs on the increasingly popular Pilates Reformer – a curious bed-like apparatus fitted with springs, straps and bars that are used in all sorts of creative ways and ensure you really reap the benefits of Joseph Pilates’ legendary methods.
Any chance to jump in a pool these days is always nice, and this jam-packed pop-up event has that covered too. Bring your swimwear and give Aqua Spinning a go.
Nutritious: RIPE Market will be on site.
SeaTime provides Aqua-cycling sessions in the sea and in the pool where you get to pedal underwater. That means you’re working even harder against the resistance of the water, thus burning more, and yet it doesn’t feel quite as hectic as it does on land on your average bike. We’re always up for that.
On top of all this, there’ll also be a nutrition talk by Maria Abi Hanna that you’ll not want to miss. Co-founder of KeepEATreal – a nutrition and lifestyle consultancy that offers tailor-made nutrition solutions for businesses – Hanna will be on hand to inspire you to de-clutter your kitchen for the better.
And speaking of nutrition, the RIPE Market will be right on site and ready to help you with that, too. While you nosh on a healthy lunch, you can shop a wide range of organic produce, fresh fruits and veggies, even organic household items, trendy fitness wear and more.
If you are not already a GuavaPass member (who don’t have to pay), then you are only spending Dh15 for each session. That being said, it would totally be worth your while to sign up to the app as well, not just because it is very good – allowing you access to some 200 fitness classes across the city each day – but to take advantage of their summer promo where new members can get a whopping 40 per cent off their first month on monthly plans just by using the code SUMMERDAY.
If summer is slowing down your fitness regime, you’ve got to admit, this great day out would be a fantastic way to kick yourself back into energetic gear and get healthy. And even if you’re not much of a fitness freak, this could be just the motivation you need to become one.
WHEN: Saturday, July 29
WHERE: Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi
COST: Admission is free; classes are Dhs15 each for non-members
SIGN UP: summerday.guavaconnect.com or RSVP directly to [email protected]
